“I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“I don’t. He’s dead.” She flung the door open and walked back to bed. Climbed in and put the cover up to her chin. As expected, he entered and shut the door behind him, taking a seat near her on the bed. He stroked her hair. “I’m sorry, Jen. Want to tell me about him?”
“No, I don’t. He was just a stupid kid and got involved with a stupid street gang. He was shot dead before his sixteenth birthday.” She bit her bottom lip, and felt a tear slip out of her eye.
He mopped it up with a finger. “I won’t call you Jenny anymore.”
“Good.” She sniffed. “So why are you here? Who’s coming to the meeting and where is it?”
“It’s right here. Between me and you.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “In that case, can you order us some coffee? And I want waffles. Blueberry waffles. Do you want some too?”
“Sure.” He ran a finger down her cheek. “Then we will have our talk.”
“There’s nothing to say. I want to keep my job, but if you don’t want me, I understand. Matter of fact, I think it’s the right decision. The only one.”
“No, you don’t.” He got off the bed and picked up the phone and called room service. Once breakfast was ordered, he took a seat in a chair.
That seemed ominous. He didn’t want to be close where he could touch her. That had to mean something. Her heart thundered. He wasn’t firing her. He was breaking up with her. Oh, God! That was worse.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Hunter got off the chair and climbed onto the bed beside her. He pulled her into his arms, and held her head against his chest. Her small hand slipped inside his shirt, as if she needed the physical contact. She murmured his name and snuggled in tight.
After a few moments her chin lifted and her emerald eyes met his. They glistened with tears. He could feel her heart beating fast, her slight body tremble. She was afraid, and so was he.
“It’ll be okay, Jen.” He kissed the top of her head. “I promise. I’m not going to let you go. I don’t want you to quit, and I can’t stand the idea of not seeing you everyday.”
“Me too,” she whispered. “I’m just sick with worry.”
“I know, and I don’t pretend to have any answers.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers, offering her comfort, although he had little himself. “I have no idea how this will work out. We’ll just have to figure it out as we go along.”
“I really like you, Hunter Carson. No matter what happens. You are a good person and a wonderful boss.” She sniffed. “This isn’t our fault. It shouldn’t have happened but it did.”
“Maybe it was meant to be.” He shrugged. “Can’t imagine working with you day in and day out, and not being hot for you. I musta been half dead not to notice before.”
She laughed and the sound warmed the chill in his heart. He wanted to ease her worries and make her smile again—for as long as he could. “You are so beautiful.”
“So are you.” She was silent for a few minutes. “Do you miss your wife? Are you still in love with her?”
He chortled. “Adrienne? Hell no! That ship sailed years ago. Before the divorce and before she took my son away from me. Now I can’t bear to be in the same room as her.” The old anger built up, and he tried to push it aside, but the thought of what that woman had done churned his insides. “She’s a heartless witch. How could a mother take her son away from his dad? Doesn’t she know it hurts him as well as me?”
“I’m sorry.” She stroked his cheek, her gaze soft and sweet. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it. But it is unfair. You have a right to be upset. How did she manage to take your son out of state?”
“Damned if I know. I hired a top notch lawyer, but it was too late. She said she was going to New York to visit her family, and I let her take Cam. By the time I realized she wasn’t bringing him back he was enrolled in school, and she was working in a big, prestigious law firm and had a team of lawyers at her disposal.”
“That sucks. It’s just not right.”
“Tell me about it. Kills me inside. I miss him more than you’ll ever know.”
“I’m sorry.” She kissed his neck and nuzzled into him.
“I’ll have Cam with me for Christmas. I have that at least to look forward to.”
“I’m glad. I hope I get a chance to meet him.”
“I hope you do too.” As he pondered that statement and all the repercussions, they heard a knock on the door.
“Room service.”
Hunter slid off the bed and took the tray from the young waiter’s hand. He put it down on the bed, and signed the chit, then closed the door once again.
Jennifer had taken the opportunity to use the rest room and he could hear her brushing her teeth. When she came out, her hair was brushed, her face washed and she was smiling. She looked adorable in that pink Victoria Secret tee that ended mid thigh.
“Breakfast with my boss. Yippee!” She came up to him and put her arms around his neck. “One kiss, and then I’m going to devour this breakfast. I didn’t finish my dinner last night.”
He kissed her softly, refusing to give in to the temptation that she offered. Her mouth was sweet, her skin soft and enticing. He could lose himself in this woman, but if he did what could he offer her in return? He had no intentions to marry again. He didn’t need a wife. Only more time with his son. His boy was the love of his life, and he needed to remember that and not take more from this woman than he was willing to give.
* * *
Jennifer knew that they could shove their troubles away for the moment, but like their luggage they’d be carried back home with them. Still, she did her best to put her happy face on and make the most of their last day in Vegas. She kept up a lively chatter throughout their impromptu breakfast, then she kicked him out so she could get ready for the day ahead.
The conference took on a slower pace for the final day and it was almost a relief when it was over.
She had seen Bill briefly from across the room, and he nodded at her but didn’t approach. She was pretty sure that he knew what was going on with her and Hunter and had decided to give her plenty of breathing room.
As she packed her bag for the flight home, she opened her purse and took out Bill’s card. She looked at it for a long moment, then tore it up and put it in the bin. She would never call him, no matter what happened with Hunter or her job. Chicago was not in her career or travel destination. If she ever relocated it would be somewhere south, with warm weather and easy distance to her mother.
Before Hunter left this morning they had discussed their situation to death, and agreed on one thing only. They needed to try to return to being business partners, and not to engage in any after hour activities. Hunter had not gone along with that idea at first, but Jennifer had been adamant. She didn’t want the guys at work thinking she was sleeping with the boss, and if they continued they would be found out. What happened here would hopefully stay secret, but continuing the affair would create an impossible work environment.
She wanted her colleagues’ respect, and she wouldn’t get it if she was the boss’s lover. It was a very difficult choice to make. The thought of not being with Hunter tore her insides in two. And she knew Hunter wanted her too.
Why this had to happen to them, she had no idea. They had worked together for six months without a flirtatious word or glance. But she couldn’t blame the hotel forever. She was a strong woman and had made a very bad decision. Hunter was a man, and she had basically thrown herself at him. What was he to do?
Rehashing it over and over wouldn’t make the situation any better. They had found great joy together, and they both liked each other very much. Love was not a word that she dared to use. But as much as she cared for him, she cared more about her job, she told herself firmly, trying to convince herself of that.
As they sat in their first class cabin on their return trip, Hunter ordered a drink and she pretended to sleep. It was better that way. They
had no more words to say. Their actions would define the truth. Had this been a weekend romance or a once-in-a-lifetime thing? She hoped for the sake of her career that it was the first and not the latter.
Her Mini convertible was at the airport and she drove back to Mountain View alone. Once she was on the highway heading home, she called her mother on her Bluetooth car phone, as she did every Sunday. She had the top down, allowing the warm breeze to blow through her hair. After being stuck in a hotel for several days, the fresh air felt wonderful.
Gina Martin lived in a suburb of Phoenix, where the dry air was good for her asthma. She lived in a small townhouse community with an active senior center. They had a large pool and clubhouse, bingo nights and card games, and potluck dinners. Her mother enjoyed it all and had made good friends with a few widowed ladies.
Expecting her call, Gina picked up right away. “Hello, dear. How was your trip?”
“It went great, Mom. Really good. But exhausting. Conferences are like that. Talking to so many people, being on your feet all day. I won’t get home until about nine and need to do a wash, sort out my clothes, then be at work again by eight.”
“Your wash can wait. Tell me all about it. How was Hunter? That is his name, isn’t it? And the others? Are they treating you any better?”
“Yes. I’m settling in now, and the guys are great. Very knowledgeable, and don’t need much direction. I feel like I’ve earned their respect.” That might be a small lie, but work wise it was true. Unfortunately, they now had a reason to be suspicious about her personal life.
“How’s Humphrey?” That was her mother’s Persian cat. He was twelve years old, black and white, and looked like a super large soccer ball. Must have weighed about forty pounds.
“He’s asleep on the back of the couch as usual,” Gina said, a smile in her voice. “When will you be coming home to see me? I miss you, you know? What about Thanksgiving? That’s not far away.”
“I will be there. That’s a promise.” Jennifer cleared her throat. She knew she didn’t get out to see her mother as often as she should, and tried to push away the guilt—defending herself with the knowledge that her mom was happy and had friends. It was not Jen’s fault that the good jobs were here in Silicone Valley, and her mother couldn’t take the weather. “How’re you feeling, Mom?”
“Oh, as well as can be expected. Don’t worry about me. You get off the phone now. I hate when you talk and drive. Call me this weekend, and we’ll talk then.”
“Will do. Love you, Mom. You can fly out next month and visit me for a few days if you like. I’d love that.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. Beautiful girl like you should have better things to do. Like a man.”
“Well, I don’t. I have enough on my plate right now, besides having some guy hanging around.”
“Well, you’re not getting any younger, and I’d like grandbabies before I die.”
“You’re not going to die, and I’m not ready for babies. Talk to you soon. Bye, Mom.”
That was certainly not a talk she wanted to have right now. She cranked the music and let Taylor Swift take her away.
The drive only took her thirty minutes and she pulled into the parking lot of her condo building, put up her convertible top, and dragged her bag toward the elevators. The building didn’t have security staff manning it, but it was brightly lit and safe.
She opened the door, turned on the lights, and felt a sense of relief to be home again. For tonight she would leave her worries behind. Tomorrow was another day and she’d face whatever was ahead with her usual positive attitude.
This is what mattered. Her own apartment to come home to, her mother’s well being. Anything else was just a distraction.
She unpacked her bag, poured a glass of wine and took it out to the balcony to enjoy the night air. She tilted her head back and pushed all thoughts of Hunter to the outer limits of her mind. He didn’t stay there.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jennifer got to her office the following morning at seven thirty. She said good morning to the security staff and made her way to the second floor, taking the staircase instead of the elevator.
The building was modern—a low, two-story with a lot of glass and cubicles, muted carpeting, pastel colored walls. It was bright and shiny, like the people who worked in it.
Her office was small but private, with a view of the Santa Cruz looming in the distance from her large window. Compared to Googleplex, which had 3 million square feet and stretched over acres of land, Sonesta was a drop in the water, but it was a growing company and had a new addition planned for the following year.
They had a courtyard in the center, where people could catch a little sunshine and mingle over their lunch or coffee breaks. The building and the occupants were very staff friendly.
She was early and only the receptionist and a few office people were at their desks. She didn’t see Hunter in his big corner office, and yet her stomach was already churning at the thought.
They had a large cafeteria on the first floor, but she didn’t want to bother with that. Instead, she decided to grab a cup of coffee and a bagel from the small second floor canteen. Potted plants separated the half-dozen tables and chairs, and she sat down to wait for her toasted bagel.
Sipping on her coffee, she watched a steady stream of people exiting from the elevators. They had three and everyone was arriving at once. Despite it being a Monday, people were chatting and laughing. She waved as she walked to the counter for her toasted bagel. “Thanks Eddie.” He put her cream cheese on the side, the way she liked it.
She turned around, and saw Hunter sitting at her table where she’d left her oversized tote. Her stomach jumped and her heart raced. She didn’t want to talk to him, but he left her no choice. She swallowed, straightened her gray jacket, and took the chair next to him.
“Good morning,” she said, as normal as possible, although her heart was fluttering like a wild bird trapped inside a cage. “I didn’t see you come in.”
“I’ve been here awhile.” His blue gaze flicked over her. “How did you sleep last night?”
“Good. Thank you.” It was a lie. She’d barely slept at all. “How about you?”
“I tossed and turned all damn night.” His eyes held hers. They were hot. Intense. Devouring her. A hungry wolf’s eyes.
Her shoulders stiffened. Tension raced through her. “What?” She picked at her bagel. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
“It didn’t go away,” he said quietly, dropping his gaze to his coffee cup.
“What didn’t go away?” she asked nervously, afraid she already knew. Her pulse was beating like a conga drum, and her mouth was dry.
“Wanting you.”
Damn! Why did he have to say that?
She picked up her coffee cup, took a big sip and burned her tongue. “Ouch.”
“Is that all you’ve got to say?” He pushed his cup aside. “What about us?”
“There is no us.” She leaned her head close to his and whispered, “Remember? We agreed to keep our distance, and yet, here you are.”
“You want me to leave?”
Yes. No. She knew what she wanted. But she couldn’t have it. “This has to stop.”
“What?” His foot met hers under the table. “You mean me?”
She shook her head. “This confusion. I love my job. I want to keep it.”
“I know you do, and I want you to keep it too.”
“So.” She gave a shrug of her shoulders. “Stop talking to me.”
“Why don’t you just ask me to stop breathing?” His eyes held hers and she could see his need. It hurt her to see his vulnerability.
“Hunter. Please don’t make this harder than it already is.” Her stomach churned, and her heart felt tight.
He got up slowly and picked up his coffee cup. “If that’s what you want.”
She didn’t answer because anything she might say would only expose herself and her own desire. She wanted him. She
wanted her job. Why was that so difficult? Was that too much to ask?
She watched him walk away, and her heart left too.
The day dragged with every agonizing minute. Jennifer would get a sneak peak of Hunter now and then, but it did nothing to soothe the ache inside of her—only aggravated it more. They had an executive meeting that afternoon at four, and Jen watched the clock until the hour, knowing at last she would be able to feast her eyes on him, guilt-free.
Eight people sat around the conference table with Hunter in his usual spot at the head. Just being in the same space made everything brighter. Her senses were open and more aware. She could breathe in the scent of him and feel him with every pore.
Overwhelmed by the rush of emotion, Jennifer fiddled with her pen and tried to avoid openly looking in his direction, in case her face mirrored what she felt inside. She was darn near bursting. Excitement, longing, like a teenaged girl’s first crush. She forced herself to sit still as he commenced the meeting.
The sound of his voice—the soft-spoken, clear tones which he used to address his colleagues was just one of the things she loved about him. He wasn’t forceful, or arrogant, but treated each person in the room as an equal. His questions were direct, and if the answer didn’t agree with him, he looked for a solution.
“Jennifer? Would you give us an update on your month’s progress?” He looked at her calmly, but she heard the tremor in her own voice as she related the facts. Neither of them made eye contact, and suddenly her well-being fled, and she felt as though she was suffocating. The room became oppressive, and oxygen deprived. She opened her jacket to let in some air and gulped down some water.
As the discussions continued, Jen crossed and uncrossed her legs. She was antsy. Itchy. Like she had a case of hives.
“Are you alright, Jen?” Hunter asked, his expression troubled.
“Yes. Sorry. I’m just feeling a little warm.”
His eyes lit up as if amused. “It is warm in here. Feel free to take off your jacket.”
DOUBLE TROUBLE: TROUBLE IN VEGAS series Page 18